Romans 4:13-17, Salvation by Grace Through Faith

Romans 4:13-17 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

God has only one plan of salvation. It is by grace through faith. It is purely by God’s favour and not by man’s fervour. No amount of effort in keep the law will render him approved before God. The law is given to show man’s inability to keep it and how he is guilty and undone. And God’s grace is extended to all, Jew (that only which is of the law) or Gentile (but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of all)!

Abraham set the example of salvation by grace through faith. This promise is sure to all who accepts God’s plan, Jews or Gentile. The impossible is possible with God. This is not a far-fetched plan that God can bring life to the dead whether by the resurrection from the dead or the revival of the dead womb of Sarah to bringing forth Isaac, the chosen seed by whom Christ would come! Abraham believed God and he was counted for righteousness. We believe God and it is counted in the sight of God for righteousness.

John Newton was a slave trader turned Pastor and the writer of the hymn “Amazing Grace”. As a slave trader on board a slave ship, he learned all the evils of the seaman’s life. How could such a sinner as John Newton be saved? John Newton’s conversion is the amazing story of God’s saving grace. God intervened in his life.

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

God sent a storm and the ship was sinking. He cried for mercy to his mother’s God, “My mother’s God, the God of mercy – have mercy on me”. He saw himself a guilty sinner in the hands of a holy God. Like the jailer in Philippi, John Newton “believed on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31a) and was gloriously saved. He wrote his testimony:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see.

Truly, it is by God’s special favour that we can believe in Jesus Christ and be saved! May we be thankful for what He has wrought in our hearts. Amen.